IT is an Alice in Wonderland world where pumpkins weigh more than fully-grown men and cabbages could double as Olympic weights.

The 25th annual Llanharry Giant Vegetable Show drew hundreds of visitors from across the UK to Wales’ only festival of the talents of green-fingered amateur growers in allotments and gardens across the nation.

The championships in the small town’s workingmen’s club attracted jaw-dropping vegetables from both close to home and far afield, including a 125kg pumpkin and a 45kg cabbage grown by Llanharry man Alan Panping.

“It’s been amazing,” said show secretary Gail Wintle.

“We had to open up at noon because there were so many people outside waiting to come in – we weren’t supposed to open until 1pm.

“It was manic. There were flashes going off all over the place with people taking photos – they just couldn’t believe it.

“That’s what I enjoyed most, the look on people’s faces when they saw the size of these vegetables.

“People were just blown away by how big they were – I always say to people you have to see it believe it.”

Mrs Wintle, who has been organising the show for 10 years, said she hoped it would continue to grow and prosper.

There were 26 different categories with prizes this year with each section having two categories for members and open entries.

All the famous families of vegetables were celebrated with prizes for everything from the heaviest tomato to the longest runner bean.

Mrs Wintle said she hoped that one member would fulfil his pledge to offer a prize of £1,000 for anyone growing a pumpkin weighing over 1,000lbs in weight.

She said: “It’s a great opportunity to share growing secrets and also, opportunity if you want, to buy seed to encourage new growers.”

Ian Neal, from Newport, has been competing in the giant vegetable show since it started some 25 years ago.

He said: “It has been a very good day from my perspective – I won three categories and had a couple of second-placed finishes as well.

“I started growing giant veg after a bet among a couple of friends in the early ’80s and it went from there – I have been coming to this show ever since.”

Gardener Phillip Vowles narrowly missed out on a world record recently after his 112lb marrow fell just 1lb short.

“This has been an excellent show,” said Mr Vowles.

“The hall was packed and the crowed seemed to really enjoy it. It was a great day for the club and Llanharry as a whole.

“The standard is improving every year and the vegetables just keep getting heavier and heavier.

“It’s the only show of its kind in Wales so people come from far and wide each and every year.”